Turbocharger shaft and wheel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016074964-A1
Application number	US-201414488100-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Mar 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method can include co-axially locating a turbine wheel and a shaft where a force applicator applies an axially directed force to the turbine wheel, where the turbine wheel transfers at least a portion of the force to shaft and where a rotatable shaft collet supports the shaft; rotating the rotatable shaft collet; energizing at least one laser beam; and, via the at least one laser beam, forming a weld between the turbine wheel and the shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
co-axially locating a turbine wheel and a shaft wherein a force applicator applies an axially directed force to the turbine wheel, wherein the turbine wheel transfers at least a portion of the force to shaft and wherein a rotatable shaft collet supports the shaft; rotating the rotatable shaft collet; energizing at least one laser beam; and via the at least one laser beam, forming a weld between the turbine wheel and the shaft.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the co-axially locating comprises locating the turbine wheel via a turbine wheel collet.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the turbine wheel collet comprises a rotatable turbine wheel collet.

4 . The method of claim 1 comprising, during the forming, adjusting the axially directed force applied to the turbine wheel.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the force is less than approximately 100 N.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the force is less than approximately 30 N.

7 . The method of claim 1 comprising aiming the at least one laser beam at a joint between the turbine wheel and the shaft.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the aiming aims the at least one laser beam to a greater percentage at the turbine wheel.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the forming a weld comprises a weld that comprises a higher percentage of material of the turbine wheel than material of the shaft.

10 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying a compliance force that compensates for material loss in the axial direction as associated with the forming a weld.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein a contact between the turbine wheel and the shaft exists at single mating region.

12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing quality of a weld by reflecting energy off the turbine wheel and the shaft and analyzing the energy.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the energy comprises at least one of visible light energy, ultraviolet energy, infrared energy and near infrared energy.

14 . The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a plasma and acquiring information from the plasma and analyzing the information as to a chemical characteristic.

15 . The method of claim 1 comprising energizing two laser beams; via the two laser beams, forming two welds, each of the welds between the turbine wheel and the shaft; forming two plasmas via the two laser beams; acquiring information from the two plasmas; and analyzing the information.

16 . The method of claim 15 comprising controlling at least one parameter responsive to the analyzing of the information.

17 . The method of claim 1 comprising sensing information about a weld formed between the turbine wheel and the shaft, analyzing at least a portion of the information to determine quality of the weld and, based at least in part on the quality of the weld, accepting the weld or rejecting the weld.

18 . A method comprising:
co-axially locating a turbine wheel and a shaft wherein a force applicator applies an axially directed force to the turbine wheel, wherein the turbine wheel transfers at least a portion of the force to shaft and wherein a rotatable shaft collet supports the shaft; rotating the rotatable shaft collet; acquiring information associated with a joint formed between the turbine wheel and the shaft; analyzing at least a portion of the information; and based at least in part on the analyzing, adjusting at least one parameter associated with a welding process to weld the turbine wheel and the shaft.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the acquiring information comprises probing with a contact probe or a non-contact probe.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing the joint with respect to one or more points of contact, one or more gaps or one or more points of contact and one or more gaps between the turbine wheel and the shaft.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Zollinger Brent
• Barbone Maurizio
• Horlaville Didier
• Minculescu Andrei
• Vazeille Nicolas

Classifications

• B23K26/20 Primary

  Bonding (soldering by means of radiant energy B23K1/005) · CPC title

• B23K26/0823

  Devices involving rotation of the workpiece · CPC title

• B23K26/032 Primary

  using optical means · CPC title

• B23K26/0604

  by a combination of beams · CPC title

• F05D2230/234

  Laser welding · CPC title